Easy Fingerprint Jewelry from Average But Inspired {contributor}

Hi, everyone! I'm Bre and I blog at Average But Inspired, where I share my craft, cooking, family and home successes and failures. I cannot tell you how excited I am to be guest posting today on Ginger Snap Crafts! Ginger's blog is everything I aspire for mine to be, so it is truly an honor to be sharing here with YOU, her loyal readers. Today I'm going to show you how to make your very own handmade fingerprint heart jewelry!

This jewelry is perfect for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and, well, any day in between! With just a few inexpensive supplies and the fingerprints of someone important to you, you'll be on your way to having a sentimental piece of jewelry that you can cherish for years to come. So, without further ado, let's get started! First, you'll need to gather or purchase the following supplies:

Oven-bake clay such as Sculpey or Fimo (I used Sculpey in silver);

Rolling pin or something that can be used to flatten your clay (note: never use a device on food after using it with polymer oven-bake clay. Instead of using a rolling pin, I used a mason jar)

Tiny heart-shaped cookie cutter (I used the smallest of Wilton's Fondant Heart Cut-Outs, which I purchased at Michaels)

Needle

Cardstock or an index card

Cookie sheet

Permanent ink stamp pad or black acrylic paint

Jump ring (this is the tiny ring that turns your finished heart into a charm)

Cord or chain of your choice

Once you have all of your materials together, you're ready to get started. Are you excited yet? Here we go!

First, open your clay package and remove a small chunk. Work the clay with your hands to warm it up a bit. Then flatten it out and use your heart-shaped cookie cutter to punch out your clay heart.

Next, have the person whose fingerprint you're using press firmly down on the heart-shaped clay with his or her index finger. Make sure to press down on both halves of the heart.

Once you've fingerprinted both halves of the heart, your clay will look something like this. You won't be able to see the actual fingerprints very well, but don't worry - we will fix that later.

Next, use your needle to poke a hole through the top of the heart so that you have a place to insert your jump ring later on. If you want to, you could also use your needle to carve the initial of the person whose fingerprint the heart bears.

Now you're ready to bake your fingerprint heart! Place your heart on an index card or piece of cardstock, and then on a cookie sheet, and follow the instructions on the clay's package for baking. The Sculpey clay I used baked for 15 minutes at 275 degrees.

Once your heart is finished baking, remove it from the oven and let cool. Then, rub your finger over the permanent ink stamp pad or acrylic paint, and rub some of that ink or paint lightly over your cool heart. This will allow the fingerprints on the heart to become more visible and prominent. Put your heart back in the oven and bake for another ten minutes.

Next, insert your jump ring through the hole in the top of the heart.

Finally, add your heart charm to a chain or cord of your choice! I put mine on simple leather and suede cording, added two beads for some additional interest, and used a simple hook and eye closure to finish it off. All together, this project cost less than $10 to make!

Easy, inexpensive and meaningful - you can't get much better than that, if you ask me!

Thank you so much stopping by Ginger Snap Crafts. I am so glad YOU are here. I so appreciate you being here & especially for your comments. They really make my day! :) If you have a question please leave it here, and I'll answer it in the comments. You can also email me at ginger at gingersnapcrafts dot com. For a quicker response feel free to message me on facebook. Hope to see you again soon! :)

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Meet Ginger

Hello & welcome to my blog. I am so glad YOU are here. I'm the wife to one amazing guy & a mom to 5 wild & crazy kiddos! I also LOVE to make things. It seems like I'm always in the middle of a project or two! My blog is a place were I share my latest craft & DIY projects, recipes, kid friendly crafts, party ideas & more. I hope to inspire YOU to create along with me! Enjoy & come back often! :)

copyright & disclosure

All pictures are copyrighted by Ginger Snap Crafts. If you would like to feature one or more of my ideas or projects please do, but please use only one pictures & link back to Ginger Snap Crafts. If you are inspired by one of my tutorials to create you own, please do! That is why I share them! If you blog about it please use your own pictures & a link back to me would be so appreciated! I'd also love an email or comment letting me know so I can check it out. Thank you! Also, all tutorials & projects are shared for informational purposes only. Be sure to use extreme care, follow all safety rules & use common sense when recreating any of my projects. Create at your own risk. :)